Final EIS issued

EPHRATA — Federal regulators issued the final environmental impact statement for Grant County Public Utility District's Priest Rapids Hydroelectric Project Friday.

The impact statement, from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, is a milestone in the PUD's relicensing effort for the project.

In October 2003, the PUD filed a final license application to operate Wanapum and Priest Rapids dams and the reservoirs upstream of both facilities.

The original 50-year license for the hydroelectric project expired in October 2005. The PUD continues to operate the dams with an annual license issued by FERC until a final decision is made on the new license.

"Securing another 50-year license is our top priority," Stephen Brown, the PUD's director of natural resources, said. "Although relicensing of the project is not complete, we are delighted to reach this milestone in the relicensing process."

The impact statement documents the views of Indian tribes, governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, public citizens, Grant County PUD and FERC staff. It evaluates the potential effects on the environment associated with relicensing the hydroelectric project, which has the capacity to produce nearly 2,000 megawatts of electricity.

Brown, speaking to the PUD commission during Monday's regular meeting, said the impact statement did not contain "a lot of surprises" for the utility's staff members.

The impact statement is part of the record FERC's five-member commission considers while making a decision on the new license.

PUD General Manager Tim Culbertson said Monday he expects a decision on the license in early 2007.

"(The impact statement) is good news and another step in the right direction," Culbertson said.

Wanapum and Priest Rapids dams are part of the seven-dam, mid-Columbia River hydroelectric system, the largest coordinated system in the country.

The Priest Rapids Project occupies an estimated total of 3,104 acres of land managed by the federal Bureau of Reclamation, federal Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Department of the Army, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Department of Energy and Bonneville Power Administration.

The project also occupies an estimated total of 2,804 acres of Washington state land.